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Most Christmas Seasons I will connect with a particular song, whether a familiar carol or a contemporary melody, and listen to it over and over again...the words and the music speak to me in ways I obviously need. This year is no exception. This year the song is "Make Room" by Casting Crowns. Here are a few of the words...
"Is there room in your heart....for God to write His story....You can come as you are....it may set you apart...when you make room in your heart and trade your dreams for His Glory....make room in your heart."
What will it take, Lord, to trade my dreams for Your Glory so that You can write Your story in my heart?
I think of Mary who was to wed Joseph. What did that mean at that time in history, in that culture, in that setting? Was it a decision to marry Joseph that was based on a sense of duty and tradition? Did she accept this future because of perceived security and provision?
Consider even the sight of God's messenger, Gabriel, appearing to Mary with such a startling announcement as "Mary, you are highly favored, and you are going to give birth to the Son of the Most High."
Her response was not one of unbelief but simply, "How can that be since I've never been with a man?"
Perhaps in today's language Gabriel's reply would sound like..."Not to worry about those details, Mary, because the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you." Oh, of course, that takes care of those details, right?
Then his further reassurance..."Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age....For nothing is impossible with God." Was that to provide a validation of the miraculous?
From that point forward Mary seems to have settled any questions she may have had for her declaration was "May it be to me as you have said." She came as she was, not fully able to comprehend how set apart this future would be.
Mary, young girl, highly favored, chosen to be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah.
She made room in her heart long before she ever held Him in her arms. She traded the dreams she had once birthed in her heart to make room for His Glory, truly His Glory.
She allowed Him to enter to write His story.
What are You desiring to author in my life, Most High God? Where have I refused to allow You to enter? When have You knocked but I refused to open the door?
Today would be a good day to take a thorough inventory of those spaces inside of me that have been off limits. Those spaces do not belong to me anyway.
I am Yours. I make room. Please, write Your story. Yes, today is a good day to come....just as I am.